Nerdicus Genesis Review #45: Cadash

Title : Cadash

Publisher : Taito

Developer : Taito

Genre : Action Platform

Players :  1-2 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$25

Dragons? Barbarians? Wizards? Demons!? DUNGEONS?! SKELETONS?! AGHHH!!! I can't contain my nerdism! It's boiling over! It's everything I want, all packaged into one epic platforming / role playing / action / adventure nerd overload! It's funny though, the first time I ever played this game was for the PS2 when they released it on some Taito Memories Volume where they included a bunch of old school Taito games. This game stood out amongst it's Taito counterparts, and I have to say a large part of it had to do with the setting and the game play.

If anything could be compared to the Legend of Zelda II : Adventures of Link, well this game could be it. I imagine it to be an homage to that game, especially since it plays so closely to it. And let's not start knocking Zelda II, I liked that game dammit.

Backtracking a little bit, let's just sit and bask in the glory that is the box art. It's freaking epic. And I don't say freaking that often (okay, maybe I do). The demon is a bit reminiscent of Tim Curry in Legend, and of course the barbarian looks like Conan, but who cares. It sucked me in like black hole.

So what exactly is a Cadash, eh? Well, apparently it's an underground demon spawning pit that is spluttering out monsters of chaos to wreck havoc upon the world a la Mordor and the Eye of Sauron. Sorry, blatant Lord of the Rings comparison, but that's what I think of when I play most role-playing styled games. Basically, the demons are pissed off because they used to once live in the happy go lucky lands above, but were banished, because they were butt ugly. Oh, and going back to the Lord of the Ring reference? The main demon in this game is called Balrog. YUP! Balrog....so, yeah...LOTR.....no doubt.

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Nerdicus Gameboy Review #1: Adventures of Star Saver

Title : Adventures of Star Saver

Publisher : Taito

Developer : A-Wave

Genre : Platformer

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$25

I was staring at my video game shelf last night, looking at the huge list of games that I have to collect as well as review, and thought to myself, "Hey, Tom. You've been focusing entirely on the home consoles, but you've forgotten about something that was really a humongous part of your video game childhood."

And you know what? I was damn right. How could I possibly continue to ignore the gaming systems that stayed with me through those 21 hour car rides from New York to Florida during those family vacations to Disney World? That moment of pure bliss where I finally made it back to the hotel room after a full days worth of walking around, only to relax in the comforts of an air conditioned room, with my good 'ol Gameboy at my side.

Who can forget that horrid speakers that made the sound feel as if it were scratching your very ear drums. Or the equally horrible green screen that you could only view at a certain angle. And don't even get me started on trying to play this game at night. It's one of the few reasons why your gameboy turned into a transformer with the magnifying screen, speaker expansion, button additions. Just look at this monstrosity!

So, you know what? I'm going to start throwing some old fashioned Gameboy game reviews into the mix! Why not, am I right? Everyone loves a Gameboy game now and then. Hell, some of the games were downright spectacular. Others, not so much. But you could only do so much on a portable system am I right?

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Nerdicus NES Review #153: Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat

Title : Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat

Publisher : Tradewest

Developer : Rare

Genre : Racing

Players : 1-4 Players

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $12-$15

Happy Monday, everybody! I apologize that I have to start things off this week with a racing game that I can really give two licks about. I don't even have the slightest clue who Danny Sullivan is, and I hate Indy racing. I've said it before in previous reviews, but racing to me is one of the most incredibly boring "sports" in existence. At least Indy racing has twists and turns, and isn't like Daytona where you just ride around in a circle for seventeen hours.

So, how about I make this review nice and quick and painless? Wait, you know what would be great? If they made a racing game where you purposefully have to wreck the cars. After all, isn't that why people go to these stupid races?

Kind of disturbing, don't you think? That most people attend the races for the chance of seeing someone slam into a wall and get permanently injured, possibly die? You people are sick! SICK I TELL YOU!!! THIS IS A NINTENDO GAME! YOU WILL FIND NO SUCH THING HERE!

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Nerdicus SNES Review #50: Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Title : Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Publisher : Capcom

Developer : Capcom

Genre : Action / Platform

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1991

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$25

You know, I can't say this game is SCARY, or HORRIFYING in the traditional sense, but do you know what makes it frightening? How downright difficult and unforgiving it is!

I had the luxury of snagging a copy of SUPER GHOULS N GHOSTS recently, and I couldn't resist popping it into the 'ol Super Nintendo and giving it another whirl. Lo and behold, and much to my lack of surprise, the game frustrated me to no ends just like it did years ago. Sure, it's not as bad as the original for the NES, or if you happened to play the one in the arcade which is ten times as worse, probably because you had to keep feeding it quarters, but the Super Nintendo version sequel is a quest for video gaming justice in it's own right.

When you think about Ghosts 'N Goblins, or Ghouls N Ghosts, the first thing you really think about is a naked guy running through a cemetery, right? Half the game you're playing as a naked dude in tighty whities. Don't let that box art fool you. You'll be lucky to hang on to armor for a minutes worth of gameplay.

Hell, I even did an art piece awhile back for a corporate charity event. Check it out! (have copies of this for sale if anyone wants it...NUDGE NUDGE)

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Nerdicus NES Review #152: Dance Aerobics

Title : Dance Aerobics

Publisher : Nintendo

Developer : Human Entertainment

Genre : Music and Fitness

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $6-$10

Before there was Dance Dance Revolution.....before there was Pump it Up....before Nintendo decided that developing Wii Fit was a good idea and throwing people on to giant plastic boards in an attempt to get them to move around while playing games....there was...

DANCE AEROBICS ON THE NINTENDO POWER PAD!

Oh boy - check out that 80s box art. I wouldn't even know what to think if I found myself walking down a video game aisle at a toy store and seeing this game hanging up there on the shelf. I'd probably think that someone mistakenly put a workout VHS on the wall. But then I'd see the powerpad logo and I would end up just shaking my head in disbelief.

I was never a fan of the powerpad. It seemed gimmicky, and it never worked. Probably because you most likely broke it after the first time you used it by stamping on those circles as hard as you can. Not to mention the flimsy plastic that ripped apart at the edges, exposing all the delicate inner circuitry of this massive, plastic, beast. Hell, you couldn't even fold it up without potentially damaging what was inside. The one I have in my house right now is an absolute disaster, and I'm surprised it registers any commands at all. Still, for some reason, it ends up being a blast to play it. ONLY....AND ONLY when you play with friends.

Because staying at home, alone, playing with a powerpad is just depressing.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #44: Burning Force

Title : Burning Force

Publisher : Namco

Developer : Namco

Genre : 3D Shooter

Players :  1/2 Players

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $10-$20

Anyone remember Space Harrier? Or that other awesome game for the NES, 3D World Runner? (Wow, flash back to one of my very first reviews!). Well, Burning Force is a lot like those two games, but with a bit more half-naked ladies and radical speed bikes. Yeah, I said radical. Why not? They need to bring that word back.

Burning Force was originally a Japanese-only arcade released back in 1989, but was quickly ported over to the Master System and Genesis in 1990. Hell, it even made it's way over to the Virtual Console in 2009 so the game obviously had a bit of a following. I cant say that I'm surprised either, it's a doozy. It's a fast paced thrill ride that takes shooters to the next level. 

I must say, I was always impressed with shooters that incorporated 3D elements, especially when done right. Even with 3D Worldrunner on the NES, I was surprised at how decent it was. Especially on an 8-bit system. It's probably because they are attempting to do something different, and 3D was all the rage back then.

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Nerdicus NES Review #151: Cybernoid

Title : Cybernoid

Publisher : Acclaim Entertainment

Developer : Raffaele Cecco

Genre : Shoot 'Em UP

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $2-$4

Cybernoid is all about booty...space booty. And I'm not talking about some sexy aliens. I'm talking about LOOT. Remind me to look up why loot is called booty. I remember when I first saw this game, I didn't even know what the title was. The font was so bizarre for the first three letters, CYB, that as a kid I would just call it noid. Even when I got a copy of this game when I started collecting again it took me a few minutes to figure out where it went in my shelf.

Pretty sad, huh?

It originally came out for the ZX Spectrum, which is something I'm not familiar with AT ALL. The NES version of it is just another port, but probably the better port. The one for the Atari that I saw was pretty awful. Not to say this was anything revolutionary, but it still looked a lot better.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #49: Bugs Bunny Rabbit Rampage

Title : Bugs Bunny Rabbit Rampage

Publisher : Sunsoft

Developer : Viacom New Media

Genre : Action

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1994

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Wait, a second.....didn't we just play a Bugs Bunny game for the genesis? And wasn't it pretty much the exact same thing? You know, battling your way through various Bugs Bunny cartoons against your fellow Warner Bros toon characters? Ugh, this is the problem with doing things alphabetically, you start running into the same game too many times in a row. So, let's make this a quickie shall we?

You all know I'm a fan of Bugs, so hopefully this one will be more entertaining than the others. But you know, I say that all the time, and I'm typically disappointed. However, I will say I do like the twist of the story line that Bugs is battling against an animator. It does remind me of that old WB toon, "Rabbit Rampage" - I can only assume this game is loosely based on it.

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Nerdicus NES Review #150: Cyberball

Title : Cyberball

Publisher : Jaleco

Developer : Atari Games

Genre : Sports

Players : 1/2/4 Players

Release Date : 1988

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

What better way to spark my interest in sport games than by adding some damn robots to 'em! After all, I was suckered in into enjoying Base Wars, but that was probably because they included that battle system into the game. Nothing better than breaking up the monotony of a baseball game than by having two robots duke it out.

Now we get to experience the glory of robotic football! What ho!! Perhaps I can find a team as bad as the Jets in here....ohhhhhh.....yeah.....

On a side note, does anyone remember the arcade cabinets for this thing? I remember seeing one in Great Adventure WAAAAAY back in the day. If my memory serves me right, I played this a few times with a family friend who was obsessed with football games (literally owned every madden known to man) , and could vividly picture him getting pissed off after his robotic players exploded on the screen.

Football and explosions are quite satisfying. Time to see what else can blow up in this game.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #43: Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble

Title : Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble

Publisher : Warner Bros. Interactive

Developer : Probe Entertainment

Genre : Platform

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1996

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhh...What's up Doc? Wow, we haven't played a Looney Toons game in quite some time. Think the last ones we reviewed were the Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout and Crazy Castle for the NES, was it not? Too pretty bad games, so I can't say I am going into this one expecting much. At least a graphical overhaul thanks to the fact that it's on a 16-bit system, but still.

And when we talk about graphical overhauls, we're talking GRAPHICAL OVERHAULS. This game is a huge reminder of the good 'ol Donkey Kong Country game we had for the SNES with pre-rendered 3D graphics. Now, I never had an issue with those types of graphics, especially when they're done right, but this isn't Nintendo, and Nintendo had a knack for it.

Not to mention, this also one of the last games to be released on the Sega Genesis. I mean, come on. 1996? That's a pretty damn late release for a Genesis game.

One thing I'm certainly looking forward to is reliving some of my favorite Merrie Melodies cartoons. To this day I still watch them whenever I find them on TV. Speaking of which, are they still aired on the Boomerang network? Hell, is there even still a boomerang network?

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Nerdicus NES Review #149: Crystalis

Title : Crystalis

Publisher : SNK

Developer : SNK

Genre : Action RPG

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $15-$20

CRYSTALIS - the real question about this game is how do you pronounce the damn title? Is it CRYSTAL-IS? or CRYSTAAAHLIS? Debate - and choose...personally, I prefer the Japanese title: GOD SLAYER: SONATA OF THE FAR AWAY SKY. Tell me that isn't the most epic title you have ever seen? Why they changed it to Crystalis is beyond me, because I would have killed for a title like that on the opening screen. A tad long, but incredibly awesome.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to writing this review. Crystalis remains, to this very day, one of my favorites, if not my favorite game for the 8-bit generation. I don't care about it's flaws (which I'll get to), or the fact that it's nowhere near perfect, but for me this game holds a lot of special memories in this little gamer nerd's heart.

It was one of the first games I had ever owned that begged me to replay it. Crystalis doesn't even offer a lot of replay value. Hell, it's one and done type of game, but that didn't matter to me. It was the fact that Crystalis offered something that not many action RPG's had at the time. A legitimate story, and an emotional attachment to some of the characters you meet. In fact, there were only a few games out for the NES where I got that feeling from the characters I played as, but Crystalis was filled with intrigue, conspiracy, deaths of major characters, and a story line that was although a bit bizarre drew you in like no other game had at the time.

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Nerdicus TurboGrafx-16 Review #1 : Splatterhouse

Title : Splatterhouse

Publisher : Namco

Developer : Namco

Genre : Beat 'Em Up Horror

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $50-$100

Halloween may have passed already, but that doesn't mean I have to stop from reviewing some awesome horror games that are just begging to be played, or in this case replayed for the hundredth time. SPLATTERHOUSE is one of those beat 'em ups that i just keep going back to. In fact, it's one of the only reasons I keep my Turbo Grafx-16 hooked up. Otherwise that system would just be collecting dust.

SPLATTERHOUSE is basically a tribute to all horror movies and lumped together into one massive hack 'n' slash gore-fest. It grabs from all the classics like Dracula and Frankenstein, as well as some modern gems like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and of course Evil Dead. Originally released in the arcades, but then ported over to home consoles and the PC, Splatterhouse would set the stage for the "beat 'em up-horror" genre. In fact, there aren't really any other games like this, and it's pretty much criminally underrated as a series. If you're in the gamer-know, you've heard of this game, thanks due it's cult following. But, your average gamer wouldn't even know what this game was, and they would just assume that it's something staring Jason from Friday the 13th, but it's not.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #48: Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus

Title : Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus

Publisher : Raya Systems

Developer : Wave Quest

Genre : Educational Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1995

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $70-$100

A dinomite ASTHMA adventure. YUP! A game about a dinosaur who has asthma. What will they think of next? Here you have Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus (oh, wow...BRONCHIA...like bronchitis..or bronchial tubes. CLEVER!), on a quest to teach you all there is to know about how it's like to live with Asthma. You have to give these type of games credit. They're games with a purpose, but unfortunately they weren't trying to win any "game of the year awards". Instead, it feels like a game you'd play in middle school during computer class. Sort of like Oregon Trail.

But this wasn't the only educational game that Raya Systems pumped out. There were quite a few others that I'll unfortunately run into while reviewing all these damn games. It's certainly going to be interesting.

I have one problem already though - Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus? Sounds like he'd be a herbivore. Why does he look like a little t-rex or something. I OBJECT!

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Nerdicus NES Review #148: Crash 'n' The Boys: Street Challenge

 

Title : Crash 'N' The Boys: Street Challenge

Publisher : American Technos

Developer : Technos Japan

Genre : Sports

Players : 1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $25-$30

Look at those thugged out kids. I sure as hell wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley off some NYC street in the Bronx. They're just lying in wait, eyeing their victims, determining which one is carrying a load of Pokemon cards they can steal. Just look at 'em! Someone call in juvenile protective services and get these kids thrown into a detention cell!

Shouldn't they be in school? Why are they hanging out by a garbage can? At least their ethically mixed, so that's something. The races of the world unite under one common banner of thug life!

Yeah, I absolutey despise this box art. If I saw this game on shelves when I was a kid, I would have just laughed and tossed it on to the floor. Who would want to buy this crap? It can come off as two things. A measly attempt of trying to be "Bad ass", or one of those "lesson-learned" games where it has some moralistic value of "you can be bad on the outside, by you're a softy on the inside."

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #42: Budokan: The Martial Spirit

Title : Budokan: The Martial Spirit

Publisher : Electronic Arts

Developer : Electronic Arts

Genre : Fighting

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $25-$30

I haven't played any fighting games in awhile, so taking a look at Budokan, at least I have something to look forward to. At least, I thought I did. I have this problem that when I see games such as this involving martial arts combat, I always think back to the fond memories I had playing BUSHIDO BLADE with my friends. Those were the nights. Not to mention, Bushido Blade (as lack luster as some may of thought it was) was quite a revolutionary combat game. Nothing quite as satisfying as one hit kills, injuries, and chasing your opponent through snowy bamboo thickets.

Budokan sadly, doesn't offer much of the same glorious combat. In fact, the game is QUITE dull. Not to mention it's only a single player game. Seriously, what the hell EA? Why are you making a fighting game that is only one player? Unless it's two player and I couldn't figure out how to select a second player. Someone care to answer that?

No? No one cares? Didn't think so. BUT WAIT...Apparently there is a sparring mode...that's about it...still don't care enough to find it...but yeah...sparring that's it.

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Nerdicus NES Review #147: Cowboy Kid

Title : Cowboy Kid

Publisher : Romstar

Developer : Pixel

Genre : Action

Players : 1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $100-$150

Is that Tom Selleck? Oh...my...GOD...is that TOM SELLECK!? No one can sport a moustache like that except Tom Selleck. And who's that Native American? Antonio Banderas?! This game is filled with top notch movie celebs! Although, I wouldn't really call Tom Selleck top notch anymore. Think his last major film was probably Three Men and a Baby.

So the name of this game is COWBOY KID, but he doesn't look like much of a kid. Well, I guess it makes sense if it's just a nickname. After all, there was Billy the Kid...but he was a kid. Okay, I'm not sure what to make of this. Regardless, it's pretty self explanatory as to what kind of game this is going to be. An action western of course! Haven't seen many of these for the NES, so this should be a doozy.

Not to mention this is probably in the top 20 of rarest NES games out there. A limited release, combined with the fact that it came out in late 1992 would pretty much make this game an expensive collectors target. I'm talking around $150 loose, and almost $400 CIB. So if you have this bad boy lying on your shelf, you've got some gold. If not, well, good luck finding one. I've yet to snag this.

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